Kids Triathlon Jan. 23

HARBOR SPRINGS — It might be the only triathlon in the world where laughing is involved.

Twenty-four children ranging in age from 3-7 years old lined up during the weekend to take part in the first Children’s Mini Triathlon to run, bike and swim their way to fitness.

Organized by North Country Kids and Tim Bondy’s Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center in Harbor Springs, the triathlon challenged kids to run five laps through an obstacle course, bike/trike about 10 small laps and swim several laps in a pool with the help of a board or floaties.

“That’s it!” declared one boy, dropping his trike after a few laps and wandering off.

In the obstacle area, kids giggled while they tried to climb over and under a trainer’s table and sprinted through a set of cones.

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“We want this to be challenging, but not hard,” said North Country Kids program director Liz Beasley. “It think it is pretty unique to get 3-7-year-olds in here.”

Beasley said the goal is to combine a course that is fun, while teaching kids to enjoy exercise.

Damon Whitfield, the manager of Tim Bondy’s in Harbor Springs, said the idea came from his two children attending preschool the past couple years and the classes regularly coming to the gym to do activities such as obstacle courses.

“We wanted to do something to help kids like (exercise),” Whitfield said. “I wanted to do something in the winter to give kids an option instead of sitting on the couch.

Before Saturday, Whitfield made a trial run of the course with about six kids.

“The parents asked, ‘Can we do this everyday?’” he joked.

All participating children earned a T-shirt, a bottle of water and a banana. Kelbel Pharmacy, Inc. donated the shirts, while the Harbor Springs IGA provided the refreshments for the kids.

A second Mini Triathlon will be from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Tim Bondy’s Physical Therapy in Harbor Springs. The entry cost is $5. To register for the Kids Triathlon next week, contact North Country Kids at (231) 526-2815 or Damon Whitfield at (231) 242-0791.